Page 9 of Lethal Truths

I lean in and lick her tear away, relishing in the shudder that rolls through Prudence’s body in response. Bringing my lips close to her ear, I whisper, “Ditto.” I pull back just enough to look at her.

Prudence turns to meet my gaze, her long lashes fanning over her sad, tired eyes. And maybe it’s a moment of weakness for me. Maybe it’s a moment of clarity. Or maybe I’ve just got a fucking death wish, but I can’t stop myself now.

My lips drop to hers, tentatively at first, like I’m worried this one action will burst our hate bubble completely. I can’t have that, not with my dad’s threats constantly on my mind. But if I have to ruin her and hand her over to him, the least I can do is steal a taste first.

And oh, how fucking exquisite that taste is.

Prudence doesn’t thrash or fight me off. She stills like frightened prey caught out in the open while I press another tender kiss to her mouth, and then another. “What are you doing?” she breathes uncertainly.

This time when I wind her hair around my fist and pull her head back, it’s gentle, and she doesn’t wince with pain. “Whatever the hell I want,” I answer before crashing my mouth to hers once more. I’m not playing nice any longer, sweeping my tongue out and demanding entry.

The groan that falls from my throat at the first soft touch of her tongue is truly obscene. I close the last of the distance between us, crushing our bodies together as I stroke my thumb over the smooth skin of her neck. Prudence lets out a little irate squeak, and then puts her hands on my chest, trying to push me away.

I rip my lips from hers with a deep, irritated breath. It’s bizarre... But I want more. Prudence tastes like sweet wine on a summer day, like all the good things in life are attainable on her lips, and for fuck’s sake, it’s beyond addicting.

When it’s obvious I’m not backing away, Prudence flattens against the cabinets behind her, putting one hand on the counter while she blows out a hard breath. I can tell she’s gearing up to scream at me for the nerve of kissing her.

Reaching past her, I grab the knife she was using to chop veggies, lying forgotten on the cutting board. “Next time I find you alone in my house, I’ll consider it an open invitation,“ I warn her, smiling sharply when she narrows her eyes at me. Slamming the tip of the knife down between her spread fingers, I add, “I’ll fuck you until you’re sobbing and leave you all used up for Creed to find. See if he still wants you then.”

She sucks in a shocked gasp, pulling her hand to her chest and clutching it. I only look down long enough to ensure I didn’t actually cut her fingers, and then I turn away. I stride out of the kitchen before she can see the evidence of my arousal through my jeans. I can’t even tell anymore if my words are empty threats, or if I’m beginning to truly crave the drugging intensity between us.

She’s twisted me up and left me to sort out the knots. I hate her and want her and crave her tears, but knowing I can’t play with her for long sullies the fun. Fuck me, I can’t get rid of her soon enough.

6

Prudence

I stay inside Creed’s room for a little over two weeks. Just long enough to ensure I don’t have an infection and for the deepest of wounds to begin the healing process. My skin is still covered with tight, pink lines that’ll eventually fade into silvery scars. Everything is tender and a bit itchy, but I can’t stand another second trapped away in his room.

I mean, I like Creed. Despite it all, I have a soft spot for the dangerous guy who’s taken all my firsts. Seems I’m full of stupid decisions lately, because trusting anyone right now, let alone Creed, is risky. But I just can’t help it. I can either move forward on my own, or I can try to let him in and see where things go.

Doesn’t really matter, does it? Either way, I may end up broken on this search for answers.

And even if it comes back to bite me in the ass later, it’s too late to change my mind now. My monstrous guy has shown me a side to himself that has me inexplicably hooked. He’s suddenly become so enamored with me that he’s… he’s now this sweet, protective, thoughtful guy, and I don’t know how to handle that. It’s been overwhelming. People never take care of me. They don’t want me or love me, and they certainly never stay. Not even my own mom, though technically it wasn’t her choice to crash our car and get locked up in an institution. Still, it left wounds, inside and out.

Creed’s behavior these past couple of weeks has been like a manual rewire for my brain, and every time I think I’m on track, he does something else that shocks me straight to my core. He draws me baths and washes my hair. He checks my injuries and carefully redresses the worst ones. He kisses me softly, like a silent prayer every night, before tucking me into his side and promising my safety. It’s a dream, and a part of me is waiting for the nightmare to take over.

Hence my need for some time away from the frat house. I need a distraction before I spiral, and going back to class seems like the perfect choice.

A throat clearing brings me back to the moment as I’m stubbornly pulling on clothes I had asked Creed to grab from my room across the street. He brought a few outfits, my backpack and textbooks, and my cell phone, which was beyond dead after it sat in my room for so long. While that charged last night and Creed took a shower, I rifled through my backpack to make sure I had everything I needed for today. And what I found was chilling, but motivating.

Just another sign that I need to get back to my life. I have to find out what happened to my mom, sooner rather than later.

“You don’t have to go back to class yet, Ember. It’s only been a couple of weeks, and the fuckers who attacked you could be anyone,” Creed all but whines as he comes up behind me and curls his arms around my waist. “Stay here another week, hmm? Let me keep fussing over you.”

I roll my eyes, even as a smile tries to pull at my lips. “Why would I do that?”

He nuzzles against the column of my throat, pressing a kiss to the last of the faded bruising there. “Because I like doing it,” he murmurs against my skin.

Turning my head, I meet his eyes over my shoulder and give a final shake of my head. “Well, I like school. And fresh air. And the people who… hurt me won’t be so reckless as to try again in the middle of a crowded campus.” I hope. “I’ll be fine. Besides, you can’t keep missing class, either. We both need to get out there.”

Creed steps back, and I turn around to face him. Something dark and deadly flickers in his amber gaze, and he gives me a stiff nod. “Fine. Wait for me after each class so I can meet you and get you to the next one safely, okay? I don’t trust a single person around you right now.” I nod, even if it all seems a bit overkill.

Creed rolls his shoulders back and then walks to his desk, where he takes his pills. I still haven’t outright asked about them, but he also doesn’t try to hide them from me. It’s a bit of a silent agreement between the two of us; we’re both a little tarnished, kind of broken in this world, but we accept each other despite our faults. Or maybe even because of them.

With his back to me, he adds in a low voice, “If anyone even gives you a stray glance, if anything makes you uncomfortable, I’ll handle it, okay?”

“Okay,” I murmur, already getting nervous about today. I’d love to hide away from the world for the rest of my life, but nothing has changed. My mom is still depending on me to sort out her past. To find some truth to her delusions and hopefully bring her some peace after all these years. And to do that, I have to put on a brave face and act like I wasn’t almost murdered in the forest two weeks ago.

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